Short-Term Rental Bylaw Working Group Formed

In response to concerns about the variety of impacts short-term rentals have on our community, the Select Board and Town Manager have convened a working group to review and possibly amend a bylaw drafted by the Board of Health regulating short-term rentals for consideration at 2023 Annual Town Meeting.

The working group will consist of two Select Board members, two members of the Board of Health, a member of the Planning Board, a member of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee, a member of the Economic Development Committee, two local owners of short-term rental properties, a rental agent/realtor, and three At-Large members of the community.

If you are a year-round resident that does not own a short-term rental property but has been impacted by living next to or near a short-term rental and are interested in serving on the working group, please contact the Town Manager's Office. 

Not interested in serving but want to follow the working group's progress? Watch this space for information of the working group's first meeting and how to participate in the discussion.

Join like minded Cape Codders to address the Cape's housing crisis by registering to attend the official launch and summit of Housing to Protect Cape Cod.

More Halloween Happenings

Union Cemetery Walk with the Atwood Museum

The Atwood House Museum and Chatham Historical Society will offer a walks and tours of Union Cemetery on Friday, October 28th from 12 noon to 4 p.m. A guide will walk you through the cemetery as actors playing four selected past residents - Joseph C. Lincoln, Alice Stallknecht, Levi Atwood, and Margery Atwood - educate you on their lives and their lasting impact on Chatham. The tour will be roughly one hour. Afterwards, you will be returned to the Atwood Museum to learn more and enjoy refreshments.

Fee for the program is $25 per person and includes the tour, transportation between the cemetery and museum, admission to the Atwood Museum and refreshments. For more information and to make reservations, visit the Historical Society's webpage.

Save the Date - Chatham Chowder Fest 2022

The Rotary Club of Chatham will be holding the Chatham Chowder Fest 2022 on Saturday, November 5th at the Brown-James-Buck VFW Post, 150 George Ryder Road, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Sample chowders from area restaurants and help the Rotary put the Fun in Fundraising. 100% of all ticket sales ($10 at the door) go to local charities.

Next Select Board Meeting - October 25, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.
 
Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#. 

1. Approval to Open the 2022 Bay Scallop Season (November 1, 2022)

2. 11th Annual Town of Chatham Budget Summit; Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) Select Board, Finance Committee, Monomoy Regional School District, Department Heads

I. State of the Town  

A. Overview of FY2023 Budget; Budgeting for a Resilient & Sustainable Future

B. Year-to-Date Review/Projections; Revenue and Expenditures

II. Set the Stage for FY2024 Budget Decisions and Beyond - Discussion

A. Overview/Assumptions

B. Community Priorities

C. Diversity/Equity/Inclusion in Municipal Budgeting

D. Select Board Community Value Statements & Goals and Objective; (Review Scheduled for November 1, 2022)

III. FY2024 Budget

A. Budget (Revenue and Expense) Forecasts

B. Critical Factors:

1. Priorities/Policy Issues/Directives – Discussion

a. Funding/Service Priorities – Short-term and Long-term Funding Enhancements/Restrictions

b. Taxpayer Assistance/Relief Initiatives/Residential Tax Exemptions as it relates to the Budget and Policy

2. Education Assessments

a. Monomoy Regional School District Projections and Assessments; Chatham Elementary School

b. Cape Cod Regional Technical High School

3. Other Funding/Priorities  -American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Opioid Recovery and Redemption Fund

IV. FY2024 – 2028 Capital Improvement Plan/Program/Projects and Investment Strategy -Potential 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles: 

A. Water Supply/Infrastructure – Capital Plan

B. Council on Aging Project (borrowing authorization) 

C. Community Preservation Act Projects, including Affordable Housing Trust (CPC Applications due on November 1, 2022)

D. Attainable Housing (funded by Free Cash) 

E. Other Town Funding Priorities/Projects  

V. Debt Service Forecasts/Schedules  

VI. Recommendations and Reports Received – Review

A. Finance Committee

B. Summer Residents Advisory Committee (SRAC) 

C. Chatham 365 Task Force – Status

D. S&P Bond Rating – AAA (March 7, 2022); Efforts to Retain Highest Municipal Rating 

E. Town Financial Polices Review/Update

VII. FY2024 Budget Directive and Budget Review Process/Calendar

The Mainsheet

The name of our e-newsletter was selected from submissions by our community.
In nautical terms a mainsheet is the line connected to the boom which allows a sailor to control the speed of a boat. We think that is fitting for an e-newsletter that can be used to quickly send out important information to our community or at a more leisurely rate for less pressing matters. It reflects Chatham’s maritime history, is reminiscent of the front page of a newspaper, and it is a fun play on Main Street, where you go to be part of all that is happening in Town!